Automatic feed mechanism for punches.



I 1. sen/mow. AUTOMATIC FEED MECHANISM FOR PUNCHES APPLICATION FILEDMAY 1. 19!]- I Patented Dec. 11, 1912;

1 250,028. 5 SHEETSSHEET 1- c/ jv 'acfiaciow- J. R. sen/wow. AUTOMATICFEEDMECHANI'SM FOR PUNCHES'. APPLICATION FILED MAY I. I91]. I

1,250,028, 7 Patented Dec. 11 1917,

J. R. scHA00w.. AUTOMATIC FEED MECHANISM FOR PUNCHES APPLICATION men MAY1.,19u.

Patented Dec. 11, 191:

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3-.

J. R. SCHADOW'. AUTOMAHC FEED MECHANISM FOR PUNCHES.

APPLICATlON FILED MAY 19H.

Patented Dec. 11, "19.17;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4;

J. R. SCHADOW. AUTOMATIC FEED MECHANESM FOR PUNCHES.

Patented Dec. 11, 191?.

5 SHEETSSHET 5.

RPPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1917.

Uri-ran smears JULIUS B. SCHADDVJ, OF VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA.

' is au'romaric amen MECHANISM roa rimcnns.

' TO'aZZ whom it may concern:

v has as its primary object to provide an arprovide an arrangementwherein the sheet metal sheet I embodiment of the nvention and whereinrangementwherein the sheet of metal will be automatically advanced to beoperated upon by the punch as the punch is operated. f The invention hasas a further object to metal will be advanced by a step by step movementand wherein the length of the ste of such movement may be readily variedfor accordingly varyinv the feed of the sheet.

A still further oliject of the irlvention is to provide a feed mechanismemploying an endless sprocketch'ain movable beneath the for feeding thesheet to the punch and wherein means will be provided for adjustablymaintaining suchchain taut.

The-invention has as a further'object to provide an arrangement whereinthe drive sprocket for the sprocket chain of the feed mechanism will beremovable so that a sprocket of either greater or less diameter may besubstituted therefor to accordingly vary the movementto be imparted tothe sprocket chain at each depth of the feed mechanism.

And the invention has as a still further object to provide an adjustablemounting for the drive sprocket employed so' that when one drivesprocket is removed and another drive' sprocket of either greater orless diameter is substituted therefor, the said drive sprocket may beeither raised or low- Other and incidental objects will appear as the.description proceeds and in the drawings wherein I have illustrated thepreferred similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views: v

-Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a. conventional type of punchequippedwith my improved feed mechanism and part-.1011

of the larly illustrating the arrangement drive shaft of the saidmechanism.

of which the fol-' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dc, 11',191 '1, Application filed May 1, 1917. Serial No. 165,704.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation more particularly showing the mounting of thedrive sprocket of the said mechanism and the arrangement of the sprocketchain employed for feeding the metal sheet to the punch,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the bracket employedfor support Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective viewof the table and therest and guide rollers carried thereby for receiving the metal sheet,Fig. 8 is a fragmentary end elevation showing the stand employed forsupporting the idler sprocket of the feed mechanism,

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the I stand shown in Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 is a top plan'view of the stand partly broken away andillustrating the manner in which the idler sprocket may be adjusted uponthe stand for tensioning the sprocket chain of'the feed mechanism,

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the bracket and slide employedfor adjustably supporting the outer end of the drive shaftto which thedrive sprocket of the mechanism is connected,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one of the guiderollers of the work supporting table, and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the connecting shoesbetween the lever for shifting the ratchet drum and the adjacent sectionof the drive shaft of the mechanism.

In order that the construction, mounting and operation of my improvedfeed mech'a; nism may b accurately understood, I have, in the drawings,illustrated the said mechanism in connection with aconvention'al type ofsheet metal punch 10. This punch is formed with an anvil 11 overhangingwhich is the extension 12 of the punch. Extending horizontally throughthe extension 12 is the I niaindrive shaft 130? thepunclli-and connectedto the innerend of this drive shaft is a gear wheel 14 by which thepunch is operated. Operatively connected with the other end of the driveshaft 13 and 'mounted' for reciprocatory movement in the outer end ofthe extension 12 is the punch 14 arranged to cooperate with the anvil11.

Coming now more particularly to the subject of the, present invention Iemploy a bracket 15 connected'to the forward Side of the punch adjacentthe gear; Wheel 14 to project laterally from the punch body; J ournaledupon this bracketois the terminal section 16 of the flexible drive shaft17 of my improved mechanism. The section 16 is hollow for a portionofits length and telescopically fitted therein is the adjacent section 18of the said shaft. This section 18 is, 'as particularly shown in Fig. 3,.provided with a longitudinally extending key way 19 v and fittedthrough the adjacent end of the section 16 to engage within the said keywa is a pin or key 20 connecting the said sha t sections forsimultaneous rotary movement. Mounted upon the outer end of the section16 of the shaft 17 is a collar 21 and arranged to abut this collar is aratchet drum 22 mounted to rock upon the said shaft section. The ratchetdrum 22 is formed with oppositely disposed arms 23 and 24 respectively.

The arm 23 of the said drum is arranged to project upwardly into thepath of rotary movement of a post 25 connected, as particularly shown inFigs. 1 and 2, to the inner side of the gear wheel 14 of the punch. Thearm 24 of the said drum is, at its lower ex.- tremity, given a half turnand mounted upon the said arm to extend laterallytherefrom is a pin 26.Connected to the outer side of the bracket 15 to project laterallytherefrom into the path of the said'pin is a stop post 27. Mounted uponthe bracket 15 in the rear of the ratchet drum is an arm 27' which is,as particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, slotted to adjustably receive anupstanding pin 28 and extending between this pin and the arm 23 of theratchet drum is a spring 29. Keyed upon the outer end of the shaftsection 16 and housed within the ratchet drum 22 is a ratchet 30 heldagainst-displacement by a plate 31 secured by a screw or other" suitablefastening device to the adjacent end of the said shaft section; Mountedupon the arm 23 of the ratchet drum to cooperate with the ratchet 30 isa; spring pressed pawl 32.

As will now be observed, the post 25 upon the gear wheel 14 will, whenthe punch is operated, strike the arm 23 of the ratchet drum 22 to rockthe said drum upon the section'16 of the shaft 17 and accordingly causethe pawl 32 to cotiperate with the ratchet 30 for rotating the shaft bya step reaches by step movement. When the ratchet is thus rocked uponthe shaft section 16,. the pin 26 will be moved'away from the stoppost27 against the tension of the spring 29. Accordingly, when the post25 upon the gear wheel 14 releases the arm 23 of the ratchet drum, thesaid. spring will return the ratchet drum'to normal position,'the pin 26striking the post 27 for limiting the ratchet drum in.

its movement under the influence of the said spring. I

Keyed or otherwise secured upon the shaft section 16 at the inner sideof the br'acket15 is a shipper ring 33? Rotatably fitted inthis rinradial pins "34 pivotally engaging through the upper and lower bowed.ortions of a lever 35 arranged with the said .bowed'portions thereofextending around the ring.

As will be clear, the shoes 34-will thus ride within the ring 33 as thedrive shaft is ro tated and serve 'to operatively connect the lever 35with the shaft wetion 16. Pivotally supporting the lever 35 at its innerend is a bracket 36 extending laterally from the bracket 15 and slidably supporting the lever at its outer extremity is a bracket 37 Thisbracket 37 is secured to the inner side ofthe are suitable shoes 34provided with,

bracket 15 at the outer end'thereof and is provided at its outerextremity-with an n '95- bracket 15' at the inner end of the bracket 37standing stop 38. Upstanding' from t e is a post 39 and pivotally"mounted upon a this post is a latch 40. This latch is, as par ticularlyshown in Fig. 3, arranged to' en* gage over the lever 35 and extendingbetween the said latch and the base of the bracket 37 bracket forlocking the said ratchet drum in inactive position. The lever 35 maythus be operated for rendering the feed mechanism inactive while, whenthe said lever is shifted to position engaged by the latch 40, the'saidlatch will act to lock the ratchet drum in active position. movementwhich may be imparted to the ratchet drum 22, the pin 28 upon the post27 Owing to this shifting] is adjustably connected to-the said post so Ithat the pin may be properly positioned with respect to the arm 2303fthe said drum. w

Mounted upon the forward side of the p ch 10 below the anvil 1111 is abase block dovetailed channel 44- in which is adjustably fitted abearing slide 45. The body of this slide is formed with a longitudinallyextend ing slot a6 and fitting loosely through the sald slot andthreaded into the base block is a set screw 47 for holding the Slide atveri l adj s ment upon theblock. As particularly shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings, the bearing slide 45 rotatably receives the outer terminalsection 48 of the drive shaft 17 and is arranged to support the saiddrive shaft section in a substantially horizontal position beneath theanvil 11. If desired, the shaft section 48 may 'be arranged toextendoutwardly beyond the bearing slide 15 to detachably receive a hand wheel19 at its outer end. Removably fitted upon the said drive shaft sectionand keyedor otherwise secured thereto at the outer side of the bearingslide 45 is a drive sprocket 50.

Arranged a suitable distance in the rear of the punch and opposite theouter end thereof is an idler sprocket stand 51 se cured to the floor orother support upon which the punch is rested. Asshown particularly inFig. 9 of the drawings, this stand at its upper extremity is formed withspaced arms 52 from which extend lateral parallel forks 53. In therear'of the forks 53, the arms 52 of the said stand are pro- .vided withlateral enlargements 5a and screw threaded through the said enlargementsto project between the arms of the forks 53 are set pins 55. Slidablyfitted between the arms of the forks 53 to abut the set pins 55 are, asparticularly shown in Figs. 8 and 10, coacting hearing blocks 56 andjournaled upon these blocks is a transverse shaft 57, Keyed or otherwisesecured tothe shaft is an idler sprocket 58 arranged opposite to thedrive sprocket 50. Extending between the said sprockets is an endlesssprocket chain 59 having the upper reach thereof disposed in a planeslightly below the face of the anvil 11. As will now be observed, theset pins 55 upon the idler sprocket stand 51 may be adjusted fortensioningthe sprocket chain.

Mounted between the stand 51 and the punch 10 is This table is, asparticularly shown in Fig. 7 provided with a plurality of transverseslots 61 in which are adjustably mounted a plurality of rest rollers 62at opposite sides of which are arranged a plurality of guide rollers 63.The rest rollers 62 are adapted to support a metal sheet conventionallyillus trated at 64:, with the guide'rollers 63 engaging the side edgesof the sheet for directing the sheet over the anvil 11 of the punch.Mounted upon the punch body beneath the overhanging extension 12thereof,

, responding'ly a YWOlk supporting table 60.-

is a longitudinally slotted bar 65 and adju'stable uponthis bar is aguide member 66 arranged opposite the punch 14. The roll.- ers of theguide member 66 are fixed to rigidly'support the platetie at theadjacent edge thereof while the rollers of the guides 63 are preferablyspring pressed sothat these rollers may give to any unevenness in theside edges of the sheet. Detachably 'connected to the rear edge of thesheet is a clamp '67, which as best illustrated in Fig. 2 of. thedrawings, is provided with a depending hook 68 adapted to removably fitthrough any one If desired, a channeled edging strip 9 may be employedupon the inner-edge of the sheet 64 to contact with the rollers of theguide member 66 so that the saidchain 59 which, through the clamp 67will accordingly advance the sheet 64 over the anvil 11 to be operatedupon by the punch 14.. The sheet will'thus be automatically fed to thepunch. For varying the length of the step to be imparted to the sheetand corvarying the distance betweenthe holes punched therein, the drivesprocket 50 may be removed and another sprocket of either greater orless diameter substituted therefor. This substitution of anew drivesprocket will, as will be observed, effect the disposition of the upperreach of the sprocket chain 59 with respect to the sheet. The bear- Iing slide 45 for the terminal section 48 of the drive shaft 17 isaccordingly made adjustable so that the said slide may be positioned tomaintain the upper reach of the. drive sprocketchain parallel with thesheet for proper engagement with the clamp 67. In this connection, it isfurther to be observed that the length of the step to be imparted to thesheettit may be further varied by removing the ratchet 30 carried by theinnerlterminal shaft. section 16 and substituting another-ratchct ofeither greater or less diameter therefor.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A feed mechanism for sheet metal punches including a drive shaft,coacting means carried by the said shaftand a driving element ofthepunchrespectively for rotating the shaft by a step by step movement,a drive sprocket carried by the shaft, an idler sprocket stand mountedin the rear of the punch, lateral forks formed on the said stand, anidler sprocket adjustably supported upon the forks and removable at theouter ment, a base block connected to the punch and formed with achannel, a bearing slide having an extension engaging in said channel toconnect the slide with the block for adjustment thereon, the said slidereceiving the outer terminal of the drive shaft, adrive sprocket carriedby the said shaft terminal, an idler sprocket supported to cooperatewith the drive sprocket, an endless chain trained over the saidsprockets, a work supporting table, and means engaged with the chain andadapted for engagement with a sheet upon the-said table for advancingthe sheet over the anvil of the punch as the said shaft is rotated.

3. A feed mechanism for sheet metal punches including adrive shaft,coacting means carried by the said shaft and a driving element of thepunch respectively for rotating the said shaft. by a step by step move-;

merit, a bearing" slide adjustable upon the punch, means loosely fittingthrough the said slide and adjustable to engage therewith for holdingthe slide at adjustment, the said slide receiving the outer terminal ofthe drive shaft, a; drive sprocket carried by the said shaft terminal,an idler sprocket supported to cooperate with the drive sprocket, anendless chain trained over the sald sprockets, a

work supporting table, and means engaged with the chain and adapted forengagement with a sheet upon the said table for advancing'the sheet overthe anvil of the punch as the said shaft is rotated.

a. A feed mechanism for sheet metal punches including a drive shaft,means carried by the said shaft and a driving element of the punchrespectively for rotating the said shaft by a step by step movement, abase block connected to the punch, a bearing slide adjustable upon thesaid block and provided punch as the said shaft is nasapas with f'alongitudinally extending slot,- meanS loosely fitting through the saidslot and ad justable upon the base block for holding the shaft isrotated.

5. A feed mechanism for sheet metal punches including a drive shaft,coacting means carried by the said shaft and a driv ing element of thepunch respectively for rotating the shaft by a step by step movement, adrive sprocket carried by the shaft, an idler sprocket supported tocooperate with the drive sprocket, a sprocket chain trained over thesaid sprockets, a work supporting table, means engaged with the saidsprocket chain and adapted for engagement with a sheet upon the saidtable for advancing the sheet over the anvil of the punch as the saidshaft is rotated, the drive sprocket being removable from the said shaftto be displaced by a drive sprocket of either greater or less diameterfor varying the stepped travel to be imparted to the said sheet, andcomplemental means for adjustably elevating the shaft and tensioning thesprocket chain tocompensate for different size drive sprockets.

6. In a feed mechanism for sheet metal punches, the combination with asprocket chain, means for driving the said chain by a step by stepmovement and including a drive sprocket mounted to be displaced by adrive sprocket of either a greater or' less diameter for varying thestepped travel to be imadjustably elevating the said drive sprocket andtensioning the said chain to compensate for different size sprockets.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

JULIUS R. SCHADOW. L. s.]

